Trust Me: These 26 Chic Medium-Length Haircuts Require Minimal Maintenance
They're low-fuss, low-maintenance and seriously cool—screenshot these mid-length haircuts immediately.
When you're thinking about getting a new haircut, and particularly if you're looking for low-maintenance, medium-length haircuts, it can be hard to know where to start. Whether your hair is currently short, medium, or long, switching up your look can be so exciting, but it can also leave you feeling overwhelmed with the choices or unsure of which style to commit to once you're in the salon chair.
The best hairstylists, however, will work with you to find the right haircut and hairstyle for you. It's important to discuss how you would like your hair to look, but also what your needs are. For instance, maybe you're thinking about adding in some face-framing layers to your medium-length hair, but you still want to be able to tie it back easily if you're heading to the gym or want to keep it out of your face with a chic claw clip. Or perhaps you want a lazy girl–approved haircut that you can wash and air-dry with minimal heat styling involved—because not everyone has time to do a '90s blowout every day. Or maybe you want to make fine hair look thicker with a blunt long bob (aka, a lob) that will grow out effortlessly in between salon appointments.
Another perk of low-maintenance, medium-length hairstyles is that they tend to be a lot quicker to dry and style than longer haircuts and usually require fewer salon appointments than shorter hairstyles do, so they make a great middle ground. Plus, the good news is that there are so many low-maintenance, medium-length haircuts to consider that you have a solid bank of options to choose from. Ahead, we round up the best medium-length haircuts—that require little to minimal maintenance—as seen on celebrities to fashion insiders.
26 Low-Maintenance, Medium-Length Haircuts
1. Middle-Parted Bob
Alexa Chung's jaw-length bob has become one of her staple haircuts. The blunt ends keep the look feeling modern, while the length will grow out seamlessly into a lob over time—ideal if you don't have time to regularly book in for a trim. "What's great about this cut is that it can be a transitional look, such as a grown-out pixie or a statement cut from longer lengths," says Wella Professionals craft expert Jordanna Cobella.
2. Side-Parted Bob
You can easily switch up a bob haircut by moving your part from the middle to the side. To get this glamorous look from Rachel Zegler, move your part a couple of inches deeper than you usually would to achieve volume and height at the roots.
3. Wavy, Medium-Length Lob
If you want to opt for a shorter cut from long hair but feel anxious about going for the chop, then a longer bob will make a statement while retaining most of the length. We love this undone wave in Laura Harrier's hair.
4. Textured Bob
A bob-length haircut gives curls volume and shape while layers will help give each of your curls definition.
5. Shag Haircut With Fringe
A choppy shag haircut with a fringe gives hair enviable texture and volume, and the layers will grow out effortlessly. This is a great haircut if you have straight hair that has a slight natural wave.
6. Medium-Length Layered Haircut
Hoyeon Jung's shoulder-length haircut is ideal if you want to take the length (not to mention the heaviness) out of your long hair without losing too much length. Layers around the front of the face also flatter every face shape.
7. Medium-Length Waves With Side Fringe
These medium-length waves, paired with a short, side-layered fringe, strike that elusive balance between effortless and intentional. The soft, flowing texture through the lengths brings movement and body, while the fringe, cut shorter and swept to the side, adds shape and a subtle edge that frames the face without feeling heavy. It's the perfect switch-up if you're looking for a sharp change.
8. Soft Wavy Hair Length
Choppy layers throughout the lengths give life and body to medium-length hair and are particularly great if you want to add more volume to fine hair. "The longer face-framing layers encourage natural movement and interest in long hair that can otherwise feel flat or uninspiring," says Cobella.
9. Curly Lob
Simone Ashley's tumbling curls have several layers that add volume and movement. This would look equally great parted in the middle.
10. Layered Beach Waves
If you have finer hair that doesn't hold a curl or wave easily, then ask your stylist for a couple of strategically placed layers around your face. Shorter sections of hair will hold a style much more easily than longer hair, which can sometimes weigh your style down.
11. Sleek Lob
This shoulder-skimming lob is so versatile. The one-length cut can be worn straight and sleek like Selena Gomez's, but it's still long enough to be tied back into a bun or ponytail. A middle ground between shoulder-length hair and a bob, it's a style that gives you the best of both haircuts.
12. Side-Parted Straight Bob
If you like to straighten your hair or have straight hair naturally, then a glossy bob like Jourdan Dunn's is always a stylish choice.
13. Shoulder-Grazing Pixie
Granted, this is on the shorter end of the medium-length hair scale, but we're totally obsessed with this grown-out style that grazes the shoulders.
14. Medium-Length Braids
Braided hairstyles are a great choice if you want no-fuss, low-maintenance hair. We love Franny's jaw-skimming braids paired with a side part.
15. Side-Parted Lob
As Nicola Coughlan shows us, a side-parted bob looks equally great for day or night. Use a hair mousse and blow-dry hair upside down for maximum lift around the roots.
16. Coily Bob
A bob allows coils to reach their full-bodied potential while keeping hair health in top condition.
17. Collarbone-Length Haircut
This collarbone-length haircut can give your style a new lease on life if you want to go shorter but not too much.
18. The Amélie Bob
"The bob style continues to reign supreme as the It cut," says Cobella. "The bob is taking on a Parisian feel with a statement fringe and wavy, undone texture. Perfectly framing the neck and jawline, the Amélie bob helps to create structure and definition, flattering most facial shapes."
19. Shoulder-Length Haircut With Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs—or curtain fringes—have taken this year by storm and show no sign of stopping among the fashion set. They look equally great with one-length hair or layered seamlessly into the lengths of your hair.
20. Wavy Bob Haircut
How stylish does Charithra Chandran's wavy bob look? This cut is versatile enough to style or air-dry, and this length is long enough to avoid the awkward in-between stage you get with shorter bob cuts.
21. Parisian Bob
The French bob is a classic haircut and forever timeless. This style is slightly longer and will look great as it grows out, too.
22. Chin-Length Bangs Haircut
Use layers to naturally contour and frame your face like this fun look worn by style influencer Ali Whittle.
23. Brushed-Out Mid-Part Curly Haircut
Take a regular mid-length curly hair look and gently brush it out with your favorite boar bristle brush to get more volume.
24. Voluminous Curtain Bang Haircut
Something about all the volume from this look gives major '80s vibes.
25. Effortless Bob
Everyone tries to tame flyaways, but sometimes it's the key to an effortless look like this one from beauty and fashion influencer Mimi Nguyen.
26. Slicked-Back Shoulder-Length Haircut
For a business-ready look, grab your favorite styling products to re-create this simple slicked-back look worn by beauty and wellness influencer Tegan Frances.
Low-Maintenance Styling Essentials
If the thought of juggling a hairbrush and hair dryer fills you with dread, look no further than the Shark Beauty 5-in-1 styling tool. Designed to simplify your routine, it lets you dry and style damp hair at the same time, switching seamlessly from a powerful dryer to a versatile styling wand. With multiple attachments, including auto-wrap curlers, an oval brush for bouncy blowouts, a paddle brush for sleek, smooth lengths and a styling concentrator, it makes achieving a salon-worthy finish at home effortlessly easy.
This multi-award-winning shampoo repairs, nourishes, and hydrates, leaving you with healthy lengths. It's particularly great if you color your hair, as it helps to repair damage caused by hair bleach.
Sometimes you might not have time for blow-drying, which is where air-dry hair creams come in handy. They help create definition, shine, and hold for all hair textures, and this one by Jonathan Van Ness is a particular standout among editors.
If you want a minimal-fuss hair routine, then make this product a priority. This heat-activated spray leaves hair with a mirror-like shine, tames flyaways, and even protects your hair against humidity and downpours by repelling water.
Those with wavy or curly hair know all too well that hair washing isn't a daily occurrence, which means you need refreshing products up your sleeve to help keep your curls and coils looking defined and fresh. Enter this clever reactivating spray, which reduces flyaway frizz and refreshes your natural pattern without weighing it down. We're such a fan of its gorgeous peach scent, too. We're a sucker for its gorgeous peach scent, too.
Why Trust Us
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